A global wheelchair dancing competition recently finished in Beijing; the winners will head to the Asia Paralympic Games, which will be held in Korea in the October. It’ll be the first time wheelchair dance is a competition category in those games.
There were 116 contestants from eight countries at the competition including an 85-year-old woman, as reported on CCTV. Wheelchair dancing is a big-deal sport these days. If you have a child who uses a wheelchair, check into local classes, like the ones offered around the country by American DanceWheels instructors and The Dancing Wheels Company & School in Cleveland. Check out the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z86oE589BGc
Competing is tough work; the dancers get blisters on their hands from gripping the chair’s wheels. The moves also take a whole lot of upper-body strength. But watching the video of the dancers in action in Beijing, all you see is their grace, technique and energy, along with the joy they take in their movement —exactly what any dancer aims to achieve.
For me, this is about great dancing, period. For some dancers, it’s much more. As one said, “The wheels are like my wings that help me realize my dreams and fly me to a bigger stage.”
From my other blog:
5 fun summer activities for kids with special needs
The connections you make with other parents in Special Needs World
You never stop appreciating the milestones, big or small
Image: Screen-grab, CCTV News